How to Record Your Playing in GrandOrgue (Built-in Recorder)
You do not need extra software to record yourself playing GrandOrgue. The program ships with a built-in Recorder / Player panel that captures your performance two ways: as an audio file (.wav) that sounds exactly like what you heard, and as MIDI data you can play back through GrandOrgue later. Here is where to find it and how to use both recorders well.
Opening the Recorder / Player Panel
With any organ loaded, open the Panel menu and select Recorder / Player. The panel has three sections:
- Audio Recorder — records the actual sound to a
.wavfile. - MIDI Recorder — records your performance as MIDI events (notes, stops, expression).
- MIDI Player — plays a recorded MIDI performance back through GrandOrgue.
Each recorder has Record, Stop, and Record & Rename buttons; the player has Play, Stop, and Pause.
Recording Audio (.wav)
- Open the Recorder / Player panel.
- Use Record & Rename to choose a file name before you start — this keeps takes from overwriting each other.
- Press Record, play your piece, then press Stop.
The result is a .wav file containing exactly what came out of GrandOrgue’s audio engine: your registration, the swell movements, the reverb — everything. It is the simplest way to share a performance or to check your own playing critically.
Getting the recording level right
If your .wav comes out too quiet or distorted, the fix is in GrandOrgue’s audio settings, not in the recorder: the master volume control on the toolbar sets the level the recorder captures. Aim for strong levels that never clip — you can always turn a clean recording down, but you cannot repair digital clipping. If you are also fighting delay between key press and sound, see our guide to fixing latency in GrandOrgue, since buffer settings affect both.
Recording MIDI (and Why It Is Useful)
The MIDI recorder captures what you did rather than what it sounded like: every note, stop change, and expression movement, stored as compact MIDI data. Then the MIDI Player can perform it back through GrandOrgue.
Why bother, when you already have the .wav? Three reasons:
- Re-registrate after the fact. Record the notes once, then play the MIDI back with different stops to audition registrations — like re-recording the organ without re-playing the piece.
- Practice analysis. Play back a difficult passage and listen from the room instead of the bench.
- Tiny files. A MIDI recording of a ten-minute piece is kilobytes; the
.wavis hundreds of megabytes.
The trade-off: a MIDI file only sounds right when played back through GrandOrgue with the same sample set loaded. The .wav plays anywhere.
Sharing Your Recording: Converting to MP3
GrandOrgue records audio as .wav, which is perfect quality but large. To share online or send to friends, convert to MP3 with a free tool like Audacity: open the .wav, optionally trim silence and normalize, then export as MP3. Keep the original .wav as your master.
Advanced: Recording Into a DAW
GrandOrgue does not work as a VST/AU plugin inside a DAW — it is a standalone program. The standard workaround is a virtual MIDI cable like loopMIDI: route GrandOrgue’s MIDI output (or your keyboard’s MIDI) into your DAW for multi-track projects, film scoring, or combining organ with other instruments. Our guide to using GrandOrgue with a DAW covers the setup step by step.
FAQ
Where is the record button in GrandOrgue?
There is no record button on the main toolbar. Open the Panel menu, choose Recorder / Player, and use the Record buttons in the Audio Recorder or MIDI Recorder section.
Does GrandOrgue record to MP3 directly?
No — the built-in audio recorder writes .wav files. Convert to MP3 afterwards with Audacity or any audio editor.
Can I record video of my playing?
GrandOrgue has no video capture. Record the audio in GrandOrgue and capture the screen with a tool like OBS, then combine them in a video editor.
Why is my recording silent?
Almost always one of two things: no stops were drawn during the take (the recorder captures exactly what you heard — including silence), or the master volume was down. Do a short test take and listen back before recording a full piece.
Can the MIDI player play files from other programs?
The MIDI Player is designed for performances recorded by GrandOrgue’s own MIDI recorder. Standard MIDI files from elsewhere may play, but results vary — GrandOrgue expects its own event mapping.